Building on decades of Nissan truck history, the last complete Pathfinder generation was built from 1996 to 2004 with the intention of blending plenty on-road refinement and off-road capability.
Halfway through this generation’s lifespan in the 2001 model year, Pathfinder was given a makeover and sent to the gym. Several styling tweaks were executed, and power output was raised to between 240 and 250 horses thanks to a new V6 engine. Turns out the new V6 was well suited to drivers after enthusiastic performance and confident towing-- and it didn’t look to be too terrible on fuel, either.
The 2001 Pathfinder’s 3.5 liter powerplant was available with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, and came mated to a four-wheel drive system that consisted of a shift-on-the-fly transfer case or a push-button, all-mode 4WD system depending on the model and year selected. The manual transmission was a rare piece of hardware that was eventually discontinued.
Options included Bose audio with a CD-changer, a rear-seat entertainment console, a sunroof, steering wheel audio controls, automatic climate control, power heated seats, and a full complement of power accessories. Shoppers after a loaded Pathfinder model in this generation should narrow their search to an LE model, as XE and SE trim levels were reserved for base and mid-range units, respectively.
Owners surveyed online tend to rave about the last-generation Pathfinders power, looks, ride and overall comfort levels. Passing is said to be handled confidently, and owners who actually take their Pathfinders down the road less travelled say they have no complaints about its off-road prowess either. Other strong points include low noise levels, and some owners even report good gas mileage-- which is a rare thing for used SUV owners to do.
Owner-stated complaints tend to centre around rear seat space in terms of head and legroom, and Pathfinder drivers also mention a ‘slippery’ rear end when running in its rear-wheel drive 2WD mode if the road beneath is wet or snowy. Additionally, some owners gripe about having to feed their Pathfinders premium fuel, which is pricier. Remember-- maximizing mileage when you drive is a function of not just driving habits, but also maintenance. Ensure tire pressures and engine tune-up requirements are up to spec to keep things from getting thirsty.
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| 2001 Nissan Pathfinder (Photo: Nissan) |
Halfway through this generation’s lifespan in the 2001 model year, Pathfinder was given a makeover and sent to the gym. Several styling tweaks were executed, and power output was raised to between 240 and 250 horses thanks to a new V6 engine. Turns out the new V6 was well suited to drivers after enthusiastic performance and confident towing-- and it didn’t look to be too terrible on fuel, either.
The 2001 Pathfinder’s 3.5 liter powerplant was available with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, and came mated to a four-wheel drive system that consisted of a shift-on-the-fly transfer case or a push-button, all-mode 4WD system depending on the model and year selected. The manual transmission was a rare piece of hardware that was eventually discontinued.
Options included Bose audio with a CD-changer, a rear-seat entertainment console, a sunroof, steering wheel audio controls, automatic climate control, power heated seats, and a full complement of power accessories. Shoppers after a loaded Pathfinder model in this generation should narrow their search to an LE model, as XE and SE trim levels were reserved for base and mid-range units, respectively.
Owners surveyed online tend to rave about the last-generation Pathfinders power, looks, ride and overall comfort levels. Passing is said to be handled confidently, and owners who actually take their Pathfinders down the road less travelled say they have no complaints about its off-road prowess either. Other strong points include low noise levels, and some owners even report good gas mileage-- which is a rare thing for used SUV owners to do.
Owner-stated complaints tend to centre around rear seat space in terms of head and legroom, and Pathfinder drivers also mention a ‘slippery’ rear end when running in its rear-wheel drive 2WD mode if the road beneath is wet or snowy. Additionally, some owners gripe about having to feed their Pathfinders premium fuel, which is pricier. Remember-- maximizing mileage when you drive is a function of not just driving habits, but also maintenance. Ensure tire pressures and engine tune-up requirements are up to spec to keep things from getting thirsty.
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| 2003 Nissan Pathfinder (Photo: Nissan) |